Hot water circulator

ABSTRACT

A DOMESTIC HOT WATER CIRCULATOR FOR A LOOP TYPE DOMESTIC HOT WATER SYSTEM INCLUDES AN UPRIGHT CYLINDRICAL CONDUIT HAVING A VENTURI FORMED AS AN UPWARD EXTENSION THEREOF. AN INLET PIPE COMMUNICATES WITH THE LOWER END OF THE CONDUIT AND AN OUTLET FITTING IS FORMED ON THE UPPER END OF THE VENTURI. AN ANNULAR FLANGE IS PROVIDED ON THE LOWER END OF AN ENLARGED COLLAR SECTION INTEGRALLY FORMED ON THE LOWER END OFF THE CONDUIT AND A GENERALLY CYLINDRICAL HOUSING UNDERLIES THE CONDUIT. THE HOUSING HAS A HOLLOW BASE MEMBER FORMED THEREIN CORRESPONDING IN DIAMETER TO THE COLLAR SECTION AND AN ANNULAR FLANGE ON THE BASE MEMBER IS DETACHABLY SECURED TO THE FLANGE ON THE COLLAR SECTION. AN EECTRIC HEATER IS MOUNTED ON THE BOTTOM WALL OF THE BASE MEMBER AND EXTENDS AXIALLY UPWARDLY IN THE BASE MEMBER AND COLLAR SECTION. A CYLINDRICAL POT ENCOMPASSES THE HEATER AND A TUBE EXTENDING COAXIALLY WITH THE CONDUIT IS CONNECTED AT ITS LOWER END TO THE POT. A NOZZLE FORMING A REDUCED UPPER END PORTION ON THE TUBE TERMINATES IN THE VENTURI. THE HEATER EXTENDS THROUGH AND IS SECURED TO A LOWER WALL ON THE POT. A FLEXIBLE VALVE PLATE SECURED TO THE LOWER WALL COVERS A PLURALITY OF WATER FLOW APERTURES IN THE WALL. A SCREEN IN THE COLLAR SECTION BENEATH THE INLET PIPE FILTERS THE WATER FLOWING FROM THE INLET PIPE TO THE APERTURES. AN INSULATING TUBULAR HOUSING SURROUNDS THE TUBE. THE CONDUIT IS NORMALLY FILLED WITH WATER FLOWING THEREIN BY CONVECTION AND THE WATER IN THE POT IS HEATED BY THE HEATER AND EXPELLED THROUGH THE TUBE INTO THE VENTURI TO INDUCE INCREASED FLOW THROUGH THE SYSTEM WITH REPLACEMENT WATER FLOWING INTO THE POT THROUGH THE APERTURES PAST THE CHECK VALVE PLATE.

' II v I2 32 35 36 1973 c. E. IMLER 3,717,748

HOT WATER CIRCULATOR Filed July 2, 1971 INVENTOR.

am .5. [M1 M ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent 3,717 ,7 48 HOT WATER CIRCULATOR Carl E. Imler, 213 W. Kirwin, Salina, Kans. 67401 Filed July 2, 1971, Ser. No. 159,148 Int. Cl. Hb 1/00; F0411 19/24 US. Cl. 219-306 1 Claim ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A domestic hot water circulator for a loop type domestic hot water system includes an upright cylindrical conduit having a venturi formed as an upward extension thereof. An inlet pipe communicates with the lower end of the conduit and an outlet fitting is formed on the upper end of the venturi. An annular flange is provided on the lower end of an enlarged collar section integrally formed on the lower end of the conduit and a generally cylindrical housing underlies the conduit. The housing has a hollow base member formed therein corresponding in diameter to the collar section and an annular flange on the base member is detachably secured to the flange on the collar section. An electric heater is mounted on the bottom wall of the base member and extends axially upwardly in the base member and collar section. A cylindrical pot encompasses the heater and a tube extending coaxially with the conduit is connected at its lower end to the pot. A nozzle forming a reduced upper end portion on the tube terminates in the venturi. The heater extends through and is secured to a lower wall on the pot. A flexible valve plate secured to the lower wall covers a plurality of water flow apertures in the wall. A screen in the collar section beneath the inlet pipe filters the water flowing from the inlet pipe to the apertures. An insulating tubular housing surrounds the tube. The conduit is normally filled with water flowing therein by convection and the water in the pot is heated by the heater and expelled through the tube into the venturi to induce increased flow through the system with replacement water flowing into the pot through the apertures past the check valve plate.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention The present invention relates to devices for maintaining the flow of hot water in a domestic hot water loop system.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A domestic hot water circulator for loop type domestic hot water systems including an upright cylindrical conduit, a venturi formed as an upward extension of the upper end of the conduit, an outlet pipe fitting formed on the upper end of the venturi, an inlet pipe fitting secured to and communicating with the conduit adjacent the lower end thereof, an enlarged collar section integrally formed in the lower end of the conduit, an annular flange formed on the lower end of the collar section, a generally cy indrical housing underlying the conduit and having a cylindrical hollow base member formed therein corresponding in diameter to the collar section, a bottom wall on the base member, an annular flange formed on the base member detachably secured to the annular flange formed on the collar section, an electric heater mounted on the bottom wall and extending axially upwardly in the base memher and the collar section, a cylindrical pot encompassing the heater, a cylindrical tube extending coaxially with the conduit and connected at its lower 'end to the pot, a nozzle forming reduced upper end portion on the tube ice terminating in the venturi, a spider secured to the tube and the conduit to support the tube in the conduit, a lower wall on said pot with said heater extending through and secured thereto, a plurality of apertures in the lower wall, a flexible valve plate secured to the lower wall to cover the apertures to prevent a back flow from the pot through the lower wall, a screen in the collar section beneath the inlet pipe fitting to screen the water flowing from the inlet pipe fitting downwardly to the apertures in the lower wall and an insulating tubular housing closely surrounding the tube to provide an air space therebetween, the conduit normally being completely filled with water flowing upwardly therein from convection currents with water in the pot being heated by the heater and expelled through the tube into the venturi to induce and increase flow in the hot water system with replacement water flowing into the pot through the apertures past the flexible check valve plate.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a system which utilizes the heat from the electric heater to enhance the circulation flow of hot water in a loop hot water system.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent in the following specification when considered in light of the attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 illustrates the invention by means of a vertical section;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken along the line 2--2 of FIG. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken along the line 3-3' of FIG. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows; and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken along the line 44 of FIG. 1 looking in th direction of the arrows.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein like reference characters indicate like parts throughout the several figures, the reference numeral 10 indicates generally a domestic hot water circulator constructed in accordance with the invention.

The domestic hot water circulator 10 includes a generally cylindrical base member 11 having a bottom wall 12 and an annular flange 13 integrally formed thereon. An axial opening 14 is formed in the bottom 12 for reasons to be assigned. An upstanding cylindrical conduit 15 has an enlarged collar section 16 integrally formed there on and carrying an annular flange 17 on its lower end. The annular flange 17 is adapted to be secured to the annular flange 13 by a plurality of cap screws 18. A sealing gasket 19 is engaged between the flanges 13 and 17 to form a watertight connection therebetween.

An inlet fitting 20 is connected to the lower portion of the conduit 15 above the enlarged portion 16 thereof. The upper end portion of the conduit 15 is necked down to form a venturi at 21 which opens into a cylindrical fitting 22 of a diameter greater than the venturi 21 but less than the conduit 15.

A generally cylindrical pot 23 is positioned centrally of the lower portion 16 of the conduit 15 and has a relatively small upstanding tube 24 secured thereto by means of an inverted funnel-shaped connector 25. The tube 24 has a reduced upper end portion 26 for increasing the velocity of fluid flowing upwardly therethrough. A generally cylindrical insulating housing 27 completely surrounds the tube 24 and is sealed thereto providing an air space 28 therebetween.

A spider 29 is mounted in the upper end portion of the conduit 15 just below the venturi 21 to encompass and support'the upper end of the tube 24. A strainer screen 30 extends horizontally across the juncture of the conduit 15 with its enlarged lower end portion 16 and engages the outer circumference of the housing 27 to strain out large pieces of polluting material as well as maintain the pct 23 in a central position in the enlarged portion 16 of the conduit 15.

An electric heater 31 is mounted centrally in the pot 23 and is secured thereto. The electric heater 31 has an externally threaded lower extension 32 which extends through the bottom wall 12 of the cylindrical member 11 and is secured thereto by a nut 33 engaged thereover. An aquastat circuit controlled device 34 is mounted on the outer face of the member 11 so as to be affected by the temperature of the water therein.

A generally cylindrical housing 35 extends downwardly from the flange 13 and is secured to the heater 31 by a bolt 36. Wires 37 extend to the aquastat 34 and the electric heater 31 from a source of electricity (not shown).

The lower wall 38 of the pot 23, has a plurality of circumferentially spaced apertures 39 extending upwardly therethrough and covered by a flexible check valve plate 40. The check valve plate 40 is secured to the lower wall 38 by rivets 4 1.

In the use and operation of the invention the fitting 20 is connected to the return side of the domestic hot water loop and fitting 22 is connected to the supply side of the same domestic hot water loo-p. In the normal operation of a domestic hot water loop system, the heated water will create convection currents which will cause a flow of water in the loop so that all of the water in the loop will be maintained at approximately the same hot temperature. In some instances it has been found that the natural convection currents are insuflicient to maintain the desired circulation and in many prior art devices mechanical pumps have been used to enhance the convection current circulation.

In the present device water in the pot 23 is quickly heated by the electric heater 31 and flows upwardly through the tube 24 gaining velocity as it moves through the reduced diameter portion 26, until is is finally expelled therefrom and moves on upwardly through a venturi 21 formed in the upper end of the conduit 15.

As water flows out of the pot 23 new water flows into the pot 23 through the apertures 33 and past the flexible valve 40. The conduit 15 being completely filled with water, provides a water supply which is aspirated by the flow of water through the tube 24 and through the venturi 21. The housing 27 insulates the tube 24 from the surrounding water to prevent the dissipation of the heat from the water in the tube 24. As the water is caused to circulate within the loop eventually rapidly heated water will flow into the chamber surrounding the pot 23 and cause the aquastat 34 to deenergize the electric heater 31. As the water in the system cools the aquastat 34 will again energize the electric heater 31 and the circulation process will be continued.

Having thus described the preferred embodiments of the invention it should be understood that numerous structural modifications and adaptations may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. A domesic hot water circulator for loop type domestic hot water systems comprising an upright cylindrical conduit, a venturi formed as an upward extension of the upper end of said conduit, an outlet pipe fitting formed on the upper end of said venturi, an inlet pipe fitting secured to and communicating with said conduit adjacent the lower end thereof, an enlarged collar section integrally formed on the lower end of said conduit, an annular flange formed on the lower end of said collar section, a generally cylindrical housing underlying said conduit and having a cylindrical hollow base member formed therein corresponding in diameter to said collar section, a bottom wall on said base member, an annular flange formed on said base member detachably secured to said annular flange formed on said collar section, an electric heater mounted on said bottom wall and extending axially upwardly in said base member and said collar section, a cylindrical pot encompassing said heater, a cylindrical tube extending coaxially with said conduit and connected at its lower end to said pot, a nozzle forming reduced upper end portion on said tube terminating in said venturi, a spider secured to said tube and said conduit to support the tube in said conduit, a lower wall on said pot with said heater extending through and secured thereto, a plurality of apertures in said lower wall, a flexible valve plate secured to said lower wall to cover said apertures to prevent a back flow from said pot through said lower wall, a screen in said collar section beneath said inlet pipe fitting to screen the water flowing from said inlet fitting downwardly to the apertures in said lower wall and an insulating tubular housing closely surrounding said tube to provide an air space therebetween, said conduit normally being completely filled with water flowing upwardly therein from convention currents with water in said pot being heated by said heater and expelled through said tube into said venturi to induce an increased flow in said hot water system with replacement water flowing into said pot through said apertures past said flexible check valve plate.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,686,863 8/1954 Chandler 219-306 X 2,663,787 12/1953 Alexander 219-314 1,526,229 2/ 1925 Parkinson 417-209 1,034,952 8/1912 Ball 219-314 582,188 5/1897 Dunlap 417-209 X 1,573,668 2/1926 Wood 417-209 X 1,684,242 9/1928 Randolph 417-209 519,887 5/1894 Davis. 1,994,765 3/1935 Harvey 219-306 X 2,720,154 10/1955 Graham 417-208 X 2,784,678 3/ 1957 Graham 99-310 FOREIGN PATENTS 775,929 10/ 1934 France 237-60 ANTHONY BARTIS, Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 

